Shoes, devices for shoes, and methods of using shoes

Abstract

A shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are located in a forefoot portion of the shoe between an upper and an outsole of the shoe, and one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other. A device for a shoe includes a first plate and a second plate that are installable in a forefoot portion of the shoe, and an energy return member positioned between the first plate and the second plate. A method of using a shoe includes applying, with a foot, a force on at least one of two plates that is positioned in a forefoot portion of a shoe, so as to move the two plates together and increase a loading of a spring, and launching the foot due to the two plates being moved apart by the spring as the foot is being lifted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for use in a shoe, the device comprising:
 a first plate and a second plate, the first plate having a first hinge portion, and the second plate having a hinge portion; 
 one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other; and 
 a pin that passes through the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate to hold together the first plate and the second plate; 
 wherein the first plate is at least partially rotatable about the pin; and 
 wherein the first plate is made of an elastomer and has one or more air openings. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising filler material disposed between the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the filler material has one or more openings in which the one or more springs are positioned. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air openings in the first plate are each located over a middle of a corresponding spring of the one or more springs. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is thermoplastic. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more springs comprise a plurality of springs that are arranged in at least two rows. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more springs comprise a plurality of springs that are arranged in at least three rows. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more springs comprise at least two springs that are of different sizes. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate are at least partially rotatable about the pin. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion of the first plate curls at least partially around the pin. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate both curl at least partially around the pin. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate further has a second hinge portion; and
 wherein the hinge portion of the second plate is located between the first hinge portion of the first plate and the second hinge portion of the first plate. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge portion of the second plate is in contact with the first hinge portion of the first plate and the second hinge portion of the first plate. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge portion of the first plate curls downward from a top portion of the first plate; and wherein the hinge portion of the second plate curls upward from a bottom portion of the second plate. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more springs is encircled by a filler material that is located entirely between the first plate and the second plate; and
 wherein the filler material extends from the first hinge of the first plate to an end of the first plate that is opposite the first hinge of the first plate. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the filler material is made of ethylene vinyl acetate and has one or more openings in which the one or more springs are located; and
 wherein the one or more air openings in the first plate are aligned over the one or more openings in the filler material. 
 
     
     
       17. A device for use in a shoe, the device comprising:
 a first plate and a second plate, the first plate having a first hinge portion, and the second plate having a hinge portion; 
 an energy return member positioned between the first plate and the second plate; and 
 a pin that passes through the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate; 
 wherein the first plate is at least partially rotatable about the pin; and 
 wherein the first plate is made of an elastomer and has an air opening that is located over the energy return member. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the energy return member comprises a spring. 
     
     
       19. A shoe, comprising:
 a midsole; and 
 a device comprising a first plate, a second plate, a pin, and a spring, the device located in a cavity that is in the midsole; 
 wherein the pin passes through a first hinge portion of the first plate and a hinge portion of the second plate; 
 wherein the first plate is at least partially rotatable about the pin; and 
 wherein the first plate is made of an elastomer and has an air opening that is located over a middle of the spring. 
 
     
     
       20. The shoe of  claim 19 , further comprising an outsole having an opening to expose at least a portion of the device. 
     
     
       21. A method, comprising:
 applying, with a foot, a force on at least one of two plates that is positioned in a shoe, so as to rotate the at least one plate about a pin that passes through a hinge of the at least one plate to move the two plates together and increase a loading of a spring; and 
 launching the foot due to the two plates being moved apart by the spring as the foot is being lifted; 
 wherein the at least one plate is made of an elastomer and has an air opening that is located over a middle of the spring to allow air to pass through when the force is applied on the at least one plate. 
 
     
     
       22. A device for use in a shoe, the device comprising:
 a first plate and a second plate, the first plate having a first hinge portion, and the second plate having a hinge portion; 
 one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other; and 
 a pin that passes through the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate to hold together the first plate and the second plate; 
 wherein the first plate is at least partially rotatable about the pin; 
 wherein the first plate is made of an elastomer and has one or more air openings; 
 wherein the first plate further has a second hinge portion; 
 wherein the hinge portion of the second plate is located between the first hinge portion of the first plate and the second hinge portion of the first plate; and 
 wherein the first hinge portion of the first plate is shorter than the second hinge portion of the first plate in order to accommodate the pin such that the end of the pin is flush with the outer edge of the top portion of the first plate. 
 
     
     
       23. A device for use in a shoe, the device comprising:
 a first plate and a second plate, the first plate having a first hinge portion, and the second plate having a hinge portion; 
 one or more springs for biasing the first plate and the second plate apart from each other; and 
 a pin that passes through the first hinge portion of the first plate and the hinge portion of the second plate to hold together the first plate and the second plate; 
 wherein the first plate is at least partially rotatable about the pin; 
 wherein the first plate is made of an elastomer and has one or more air openings; and 
 wherein an outer edge of the first hinge portion of the first plate is recessed from an outer edge of a top portion of the first plate in order to accommodate the pin such that an end of the pin is flush with the outer edge of the top portion of the first plate.